A Tribute To Jimmy Wyble

As many of you know Jimmy Wyble passed away in early January of 2010 just a few days before his 88th birthday. I know that this website and the information on it made Jimmy very happy. Many people told him about the lessons that are posted here and he was very proud of what I had done even though I don't think that Jimmy ever personally saw my website. Jimmy didn't have much use for anything that kept him from his guitar. He tried using computers and cell phones but soon got rid of all of it including his television and focused all of his attention where he truly wanted it to be and that was on his guitar. He decided to leave all of the computer needs to people like myself and his friend, Russell Chan, who maintained Jimmy's own website for him.

Jimmy gave me many arrangements and compositions to me to post here. It will literally take years to go through everything. Please be patient and the information and lessons will continue to be added little by little.

Thank you for your support of this information and I look forward to hearing from you.

Please take a moment to add your e-mail address to my mailing list. You will be notified when new files have been added to this site.

Jimmy Wyble Material

A Message From Jimmy Wyble

Etudes

Sound Files

Etudes 1 through 6 were originally published by Jimmy Wyble in a book called Classic Country. This book has been out of print for over three decades. There are so many cool moves in these works that they are very much worth learning. The synopsis below will give some of my insights into how I practice, analyze and organize these sounds and get them into my playing. It will be very easy to see how I came up with the ideas I did for both the "Autumn Leaves" arrangement as well as the "Black Orpheus" arrangement by learning these etudes. Again, enjoy!

Etude 1 Synopsis

Etude 1 Sound Files

Etude 3 Synopsis

Etude 3 Sound Files

Interview with Jimmy Wyble

Interview PDF

This is an interview of Jimmy by Jim Carlton. I remember this interview on both Jimmy's website and published in Just Jazz Guitar Magazine. Jimmy never liked to talk about himself so he always tried to make an interview about someone else. Jim Carlton does a pretty good job here keeping Jimmy talking about himself.

Jimmy Wyble memorial celebration

Program PDF

This is the program from a memorial celebration honoring the life of Jimmy Wyble held at Vittelo's jazz club on April 17,2010. It was a wonderful event for all who attended. We owe the thanks for that event to Larry Koonse and Brandon Bernstein.

A lesson in Jimmy Wyble’s right and left hand technique

Right and Left Hand Techniques PDF

Two Line Primer

Primer PDF

If you are new to this style of playing, then this packet will be a great lesson to begin with. This lesson demonstrates how Jimmy introduces guitarists to the contrapuntal style of guitar playing. This is a great lesson to begin your journey into "The Art of Two Line Improvisation".

A Mini Lesson From Jimmy Wyble

Mini Lesson PDF

This lesson takes a simple C major triad and alters it and sends in through a cycle. This phrase became the introduction to Etude 7 from the book the "Art of Two Line Improvisation".

A Lesson From Jimmy Wyble

Lesson PDF

This lesson sheds light on how Jimmy pratices, organizes his thoughts and creates the sounds and how he manipulates his lines. It is both very simple but at the same time brilliant.

Contrapuntal Concepts

Contrapuntal Concepts PDF

Jimmy gave me this material last week (2/20/08) for the purpose of putting it out to the world. This information has never been published although it was used back in the late 70's as curriculum for GIT in Hollywood. These exercises were written before "The Art Of Two Line Improvisation" was originally published. There are many references in the manuscript to the contrapuntal etudes but not to the actual Two Line Improvisation book. These exercises were developed by Jimmy to help develop the technique and musicianship of his students to play his etudes. If the book "The Art of Two Line Improvisation" is challenging to you, then this material is a must have.

If you don't have Jimmy's book - "The Art of Two Line Improvisation" - it is now back in print at MelBay.com. I have noticed this book is now available at Amazon.com as well as other online book stores. I would like to encourage you to make this book part of your library. If you like what you see on this site, then this book will be very necessary to developing these contrapuntal skills.

Contrapuntal Scales: A lesson from Jimmy Wyble (March 6, 2008)

Contrapuntal Scales PDF

These are my notes from another lecture from his series at Musicians Institute. Jimmy also gave me some more material to add to this packet that he didn't have a chance to work on that day as well as material that he would like to have added to this packet from a previous course that he taught at GIT in the 1970's.

Developing Ideas: A Lesson from Jimmy Wyble

Developing Ideas PDF

This packet comes from Jimmy's seminar he gave at Musicians Institute on March 13, 2008. Be patient when opening up this file. It is very large and will take a few moments of your time. Please click the link above to listen to sound files of the some of the examples. Enjoy.

Creative Practicing: A Lesson from Jimmy Wyble

Creative Practicing PDF

This material is from a lecture that Jimmy presented at Musicians Institute on April 24, 2008. His goal for this information was to start with a simple chord shape and just go with it in as many different and creative directions as possible. So many musicians tend to practice the same thing over and over and never ask the question "what if". This lesson plan follows Jimmy's creative thought process as he kept coming up with new things to do on the guitar. I hope that these concepts will spark your creativity in your practicing.

Five Ideas from Jimmy Wyble

Five Ideas PDF

This information takes on a different angle. These are five of my favorite Jimmy Wyble licks and my goal for this packet is to help you learn how to incorporate these ideas into your playing.

Harmonic Comparisons

Harmonic Comparisons PDF

Harmonic Comparisons is a new lesson from Jimmy that adds yet another level of understanding to how Jimmy analyzes his lines and uses them. He sees different harmonies inside different chord shapes and applies this concept directly to his contrapuntal improvisation. I took this concept and tried it out against different harmonies, keys and tonal centers. I always thought that this was a major element to Jimmy's way of thinking and hearing music. This lesson confirms this. Enjoy!

Jimmy's Sketchbook

Welcome to a new section titled: Jimmy's Sketchbook. Jimmy has written out many solos and improvisations based on the changes to standard tunes. I look at this material not as chord melody arrangements but as beautiful compositions and studies based on a famous progression or tune. All the music in these volumes will be either composed and worked out by Jimmy himself or a transcription that Jimmy has personally approved both the fingering and notation.

Jimmy's Sketchbook - Vol I

Jimmy's Sketchbook Vol I PDF

This is an arrangement that Jimmy wrote based on the changes to the tune "Sweet Georgia Brown".

Jimmy's Sketchbook - Vol II

Jimmy's Sketchbook Vol II PDF

This is a transcription of Jimmy's tune and solo "Two Lines For Barney". This is from the 1977 recording "The Jimmy Wyble Trio - Classical/Jazz.

Jimmy's Sketchbook - Vol III

Jimmy's Sketchbook Vol III PDF

This is a transcription of Jimmy's tune and solo "Two Lines From Nowhere". This is from the 1977 recording "The Jimmy Wyble Trio - Classical/Jazz.

Jimmy's Sketchbook - Vol IV

Jimmy's Sketchbook Vol IV PDF

This is a arrangement Jimmy did in the early 1970's written by the music director for the Flip Wilson show.

Jimmy's Sketchbook - Vol V

Jimmy's Sketchbook Vol V PDF

This is another transcription from the Jimmy Wyble Trio - Classical/Jazz recording based on a famous chord progression.

Jimmy's Sketchbook - Vol VI

Jimmy's Sketchbook Vol VI PDF

This is a transcription from the Jimmy Wyble Trio - Classical/Jazz recording based on an original composition of Jimmy's.

Jimmy's Sketchbook - Vol VII

Jimmy's Sketchbook Vol VII PDF

Etude 26 is probably one of Jimmy's last compositions. Be sure to listen to his recording in the the sketchbook sound files.

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